Advising Prime Ministers

Abstract

There is a long-standing debate in the UK on the best way to organize advice to the prime minister. This article explores whether there are lessons to be learnt from a comparison with other European countries. There are huge variations in prime ministers’ advice structures depending on whether there is a coalition government; whether the country is federal; whether the prime minister shares or competes for power with an elected president; whether the concept of the ‘stage’ is important in the administrative culture. What works in Bonn or Paris might not work in London, and what does not work in Rome, might well work in Whitehall.